This image, released by the U.S. Space Force, shows the X-37B spaceplane after landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on March 7, 2025. The unmanned spacecraft successfully completed its mission and returned to Earth after deorbiting. AP Photo
A U.S. military space shuttle returned to Earth on Friday after spending 434 days in orbit. The X-37B, an unmanned space plane, launched in December 2023 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on a classified mission. The vehicle, carried into space by a SpaceX rocket, was used to conduct military experiments.
The space shuttle landed before dawn at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Officials waited several hours before confirming its return. Pictures showed the small white-and-black spacecraft sitting on the runway in the dark.
This was the seventh flight for the X-37B program, which has been in operation since 2010. The Space Force stated that this mission successfully tested how the spacecraft could change its orbit using atmospheric drag instead of fuel. “This marks an exciting new chapter in the X-37B program,” said Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart.
The X-37B is a reusable spacecraft built by Boeing. It is 29 feet (9 meters) long and has a wingspan of almost 15 feet (4.5 meters). Over the years, these space planes have stayed in orbit for as long as 908 days before returning to Earth.
The U.S. military has not shared details about the experiments carried on this mission. However, past X-37B flights have tested advanced space technologies, including navigation systems and spacecraft materials.
The secrecy surrounding the X-37B has led to speculation about its purpose. Some believe it could be testing new defense technologies, while others think it may be studying how objects behave in space for extended periods. Officials have only confirmed that it is used for research and development.
With another successful mission completed, the Space Force is expected to continue using the X-37B for future space operations.
